BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 17 - The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the restoration of Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj, which was recently taken down from its OTT platform shortly after its release. The Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor, did not examine the merits of the film's removal and instead questioned the maintainability of the petition. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) During the hearing, the Court observed that the petitioner, a Punjab resident, was neither the producer nor the director of the film and therefore lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to seek such relief. Faced with the Court's observations, the petitioner's counsel stated that the plea would be withdrawn and refiled through the film's director. As a result, the High Court declined to entertain the PIL without ruling on whether the takedown of the film was justified. Appearing for the Union Government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Senior Advocate Dheeraj Jain argued that the petitioner had no locus to file the PIL and had failed to provide details of the alleged order directing the film's removal. He further submitted that the petition had been filed just days after the movie was taken down without first approaching the concerned authorities or submitting any representation. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The petition had contended that the abrupt removal of Satluj violated the public's fundamental right to receive information and artistic expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. It also argued that paying subscribers had been deprived of access to content they had already purchased and claimed that the biographical film, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, did not threaten the country's sovereignty or public order. Originally developed under the title Punjab '95, Satluj has remained at the centre of controversy for years over certification issues and its depiction of sensitive historical events. While the latest PIL has been withdrawn, the legal battle surrounding the film appears far from over, with the possibility of a fresh petition being filed through the film's director in the coming days.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 12 - Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Satluj has reportedly been removed from ZEE5's international platform, days after the film was taken down in India. The latest development means the controversial film is currently unavailable for streaming on the platform across multiple territories, marking another twist in its troubled release journey. The film premiered on ZEE5 on July 3 and was initially available for audiences outside India. However, it was removed from the Indian platform on July 5, with ZEE5 stating that the title was "unavailable in India until further notice" due to ongoing developments. At the time, the film continued to stream internationally, allowing overseas viewers to access it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to the latest reports, Satluj has now also been withdrawn from ZEE5's global catalogue. While the streaming platform has not issued an official statement explaining the international removal, the film is no longer accessible to subscribers in overseas markets either. The makers have also not commented on the development so far. Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and has been surrounded by controversy over the past few years. The film has faced delays and multiple hurdles before eventually making its digital debut. Its subsequent removal from both the Indian and international versions of ZEE5 has once again put the spotlight on the project and raised fresh questions about its future availability on streaming platforms.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 7 - The Central Government has responded to the controversy surrounding the removal of Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj from ZEE5, stating that the decision was taken in view of national security concerns and issues related to the film's certification process (as per ANI). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has also constituted a high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) to conduct a detailed review of the film's content. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) According to Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources, the IDC was set up on Monday, a day after ZEE5 took down Satluj from its platform. The committee has been tasked with examining the film, which is inspired by the disappearance of Punjab-based human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, and will assess whether any further action is required under the existing legal and regulatory framework. Explaining the takedown, ANI reported, citing government sources, that the film was released on the OTT platform without completing the mandatory certification process. Officials claimed that the project, which was earlier developed under the title Punjab 95, had faced objections during certification and was released as Satluj without resolving those issues. The Centre maintained that the removal directive was issued in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Honey Trehan and starring Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role, Satluj is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and depicts events linked to Punjab during the militancy era. The film premiered on ZEE5 before being removed from the platform following the government's direction, triggering widespread debate over censorship, freedom of expression, and regulatory oversight of OTT content. With the formation of the Inter-Departmental Committee, the government has now initiated a formal review of the film. The committee's findings are expected to play a key role in determining the Centre's next course of action and could influence whether Satluj returns to streaming in the future or faces additional regulatory measures.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 6 - Diljit Dosanjh-fronted Satluj has been removed from ZEE5 in India just two days after its release, surprising viewers and sparking fresh debate around censorship and political pressure in the entertainment industry. The streaming platform confirmed the removal through a short statement, saying the film is currently unavailable in India until further notice due to ongoing developments. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While ZEE5 has not revealed the exact reason behind the decision, the film had already been surrounded by controversy before its release. Satluj is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, a politically sensitive subject that has faced public and legal scrutiny over the years. The project was earlier linked to the title Punjab 95 and faced multiple delays during the certification process. According to several reports, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded more than 120 cuts before approving the film, prompting criticism from supporters of artistic freedom. It is believed that the sudden removal may be connected to the release of an allegedly uncut version on OTT, which could have triggered fresh legal or regulatory concerns. However, no government authority or official source has publicly confirmed this claim so far. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Satluj may have paused. But the conversation it started hasn’t.Thank you for the incredible love.We hope to bring it back soon.#Satluj pic.twitter.com/Ox3MZIBvlT— ZEE5Official (@ZEE5India) July 5, 2026 The decision quickly sparked reactions on social media, with many users questioning the lack of transparency behind the removal. Diljit Dosanjh also reacted online, posting a message that many interpreted as criticism of attempts to silence important stories and historical narratives. Despite being removed in India, reports suggest that Satluj may still be available in international regions through ZEE5's overseas platform. The controversy has once again reignited discussions around censorship, creative freedom, and the challenges faced by films dealing with politically sensitive subjects in India.